Tuscany's economy sees industrial slowdown in Prato and housing surge in Siena

A first‑quarter 2026 report by Irpet shows that the province of Prato is the only Tuscan region with a negative change in dependent employment, falling 1.1%. The industrial sector contracted 3.3%, with Made in Italy output down 3.7% and core specialisations such as apparel (‑5.2%), textiles (‑1.9%), metalworking (‑2.0%), leather (‑8.3%) and printing (‑2.9%) all declining. Construction jobs grew 1.1% and the private tertiary sector was essentially flat (+0.2%). Export patterns diverged: Chinese‑linked fast‑fashion apparel rose 2.7% and knitwear 3.3%, while yarn and fabric shipments fell 4.4% and machinery exports plunged 25.2%. Tourism arrivals improved 3.2%.

In contrast, the Siena province recorded a strong rebound in its residential property market in 2025. A total of 3,614 homes were sold, a 13.6% increase over the previous year and well above the regional average. Siena city alone saw a 23.4% rise in transactions, making it the most dynamic market in Tuscany. Prices, however, remained largely unchanged, with the provincial average slipping 0.6% and a sharper 3.6% decline in the Val di Chiana area. The market intensity index rose to 2.23%, and the province accounted for 7% of all Tuscan residential transactions.